8/10/06
The right idea is that education comes first and sports and other activities come second
Academic eligibility for high school athletes and those who participate in extra-curricular activities is important, because schools exist to graduate students and prepare them for life-long learning.
As important as sports forensic and artistic activities are in the education of the student, they must be held to high academic standards.
Most athletes and other activity participants have grade point averages that are higher than the average GPA of the school. There is room in any policy on athletic eligibility for a second chance.
Braham High Schoolís school board is about to pass a new No-F-grade policy effective this year. It will replace a 1.6 GPA and could result in a handful of students who wonít play in contests this fall. After the fall sports season no one with an F grade can play high school athletics.
Judy Adams, the Braham activities director, says the problem with the 1.6 GPA requirement is students could be failing classes, but could still be playing because they earned Aís in other courses. A student with an F grade has an opportunity to improve that grade in two weeks or face ineligibility.
Adams contends that as much should be expected from athletes in the classroom as on the playing field.
The Minnesota State High School League, which governs the high school activities program, has an academic eligibility policy that requires the student participant to be making satisfactory progress toward graduation.
Since individual schools are allowed to set their own eligibility policy based on the leagueís directive, standards vary and some could allow a student to play with an F-grade in a grading period.
Most activities directors have as one part of their academic eligibility policy a second chance for failing students to improve their grades.
In the Elk River School District, for example, students are required to have a 2.0 grade point average, which is equivalent to a C grade, in earning five credits per grading period. While itís possible to fail one class and be eligible, few do it. If they are short of a credit, they are placed on probation.
Anoka High School students are eligible for sports and other activities if they maintain the required number of credits, which is in keeping with the Minnesota High School Leagueís mandate.
Apple Valley High School has a different system for its students. A student must earn five credits per grading period. They are allowed to have one failing grade and remain eligible as long as they attend without fail a special help session at a Morning Study Table once a week. If they have a second failing grade they are ineligible until the next season.
Braham with its no-F policy may have it right; education should come first and sports and other activities in the school, while important in student development, should come second.
Activities directors believe that having students get a good high school education and diploma is primary, and they can point to many examples where participation in sports not only enhances learning but keeps students from dropping out of school. -- Don Heinzman
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